Can You Create Separate Channel to Air World Cup Matches? Supreme Court Asks Prasar Bharati
Supreme Court had allowed World Cup matches to be broadcast live on Doordarshan but private broadcasters are unhappy that they are losing revenue.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: February 17, 2015 01:30 PM IST
![Can You Create Separate Channel to Air World Cup Matches? Supreme Court Asks Prasar Bharati](https://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2015/feb/806/world-cup-trophy-generic-05.jpg)
Supreme Court has sought response of Prasar Bharati whether it can create a separate channel for World Cup so that it is not shown on cable network freely. This after private broadcasters and rights holders ESPN and STAR Sports argued that they were losing revenue for sharing feed free of cost. (Complete World Cup 2015 coverage | Table | History | Fixtures | Pics)
Doordarshan and STAR Sports will have to respond by Thursday. India's next match is against South Africa on Sunday. STAR will have to mention the quantum of revenue loss if Doordarshan showed nine matches, including the semis and final, free through cable operators.
On Tuesday, Doordarshan argued that it may not be possible to create a separate channel for just nine games. The judges wanted this in the form of an affidavit.
Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court had stayed a Delhi High Court order restraining Doordarshan from sharing the World Cup feed free with cable operators. Effectively, the India versus Pakistan match in Adelaide on February 15 was shown on the national network.
"This arrangement that DD showing free feed had been there for the last seven years. Let it continue," a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose said in an interim order.
(With inputs from A. Vaidyanathan)